Method for the continuous fluid treatment of running web material



Oct 1?, W67 w. T. CARPENTER METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID TREATMENT OF RUNNING WEB MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1965 MMMMMMMMMHMHHMHM INVENTOR: WILLIAM T CARPENTER ATTORNEYS @ct F17, 1967 w. T. CARPENTER 393457393 METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID TREATMENT OF RUNNING WEB MATERIAL Filed Sept. 29, 1965 5 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR. WILLJAM T. CARPENTER.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 1?, 1967 w. T. CARPENTER 3348,8393

METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID TREATMENT OF RUNNING WEB MATERIAL Filed Sept. 29, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WILLIAM T CARPENTER WMQM ATTORNEYS Dd. 17, 19%? w. T. CARPENTER 3 7 METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID TREATMENT OF RUNNING WEB MATERIAL Filed p 1965 5 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR:

ILLIAM T. CARPENTER ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1967 w. T. CARPENTER METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID TREATMENT O RUNNING WEB MATERIAL Filed Sept. 29, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

M T CARPENTER ATTORNEY$ United States Patent 3,346,893 METI IGD FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID TREAT- MENT 0F RUNNING WEB MATERIAL William T. Carpenter, Stanley, N.C., assignor to Gaston County Dyeing Machine (30., Stanley, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 2?, 1965, Ser. No. 491,169 Claims. (Cl. 815l) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A method of continuously treating open-width Web material with fluid at high speeds and Without distortion and wrinkling wherein the web material is fed through a treatment chamber in a substantially tensionless condition and is simultaneously treated with fluid by a turbulent circulation of treatment fluid through the chamber on opposite sides of the web material and in the direction of its travel.

This invention pertains to the continuous fluid treatment of running web material, including but not limited to textile fabric and/or strand materials and as in scouring, dyeing, washing, drying, curing and other operations, and more particularly pertains to an improved method for such fluid treatment.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a method of the type described which simultaneously achieves high efficiency and excellent quality, the high eificiency being both in terms of output of treated material per unit of time and in terms of the quantity of treatment fluid required to produce such output, and the excellent quality being attributable to both the good penetration of the web material by the treatment fluid and the absence of defects in the web material such as those caused by its wrinkling during treatment.

Another object is the provision of a method of the type described possessing a wide versatility of utilization which permits realization of the aforesaid highly efiicient and successful operation even in conjunction with web materials and fluids of widely varying porosities, densities and other characteristics.

A related and more specific object is the provision of a method of the type described which utilizes a highspeed and turbulent flow of the treatment fluid, and in which the aforesaid versatility of utilization is due in large part to the characteristics of the fluid flow being readily adjustable.

Another related and more specific object is to provide a method of the type described in which the web material, although being conducted at ,a 'high rate of travel, is maintained during its fluid treatment in a substantially relaxed and wrinkle-free condition. Particularly in the case of woven or knitted textile fabric in which tension produces a tighter twist in the individual yarns thereof, maintenance of the web material in substantially relaxed condition during treatment greatly facilitates its penetration by the treatment fluid.

Still other objects and advantages will be in part evident and in part pointed out hereinafter in the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the inven- 3,346,893 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 tion, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of apparatus suitable for practice of the method of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the apparatus substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 with certain components being shown in side elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken transversely through the lower portion of the apparatus substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 with certain components being shown in front elevation;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken transversely through the apparatus substantially along the 'line 44 of FIGURE 2, with certain components broken away to better illustrate details of construction and with certain components being shown in front elevation;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken transversely through the rear portion of the apparatus substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 with certain components being shown in side elevation;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of the treatment chamber and associated fluid manifold of the apparatus shown in vertical section in FIGURE 5, and illustrating the fluid flow therethrough;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing the components of the treatment chamber in another adjustive position thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 8--8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sec tion taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the sealing member and immediately associated components of the apparatus shown in horizontal section in FIGUR 8 and 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary reduced-scale section taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 includes a frame 10 having vertical side members 12, 14 held in spaced parallel relationship to each other by a plurality of transverselyextending rod members 16. Carried by frame 10 so as to extend horizontally between walls 12, 14 thereof at opposite ends of the apparatus are sets of suitably-journaled feed rolls 18, 20 and squeeze-delivery rolls 22, 24, the bottom rolls 20, 24 of each set are mounted for movement toward and away from the upper rolls 18, 22 thereof, respectively, under the impetus of pneumatic or other suitable control mechanisms carried by frame 10, for the purpose of adjusting as desired the nip pressure between the rolls of each pair. Such a mechanism in association with bottom roll 24 is identified in FIGURE 1 in its entirety by the numeral 26. The upper rolls 18, 22 of each pair of rolls are positively driven in the same direction, clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1, by a variable speed motor 25 mounted adjacent side member 14 of frame 10 and drivably connected to rolls 18, 22 in any suitable manner, as by belt 28, chain 30 .and the associated sprockets and pulley shown in FIGURE 1. Each bottom roll 20, 24 is in turn driven by and in the opposite direction as its associated top roll through suitable critical, and other equivalent means might be utilized in lieu of that shown and described.

Turning now to the treatment-fluid circuitry of the apparatus, the same includes generally fluid reservoir means, fluid pump means, fluid manifold means and fluidtreatrnent chamber means. These and all other fluidengaged components of the apparatus are preferably constructed of corrosion-resistant metal, for instance stainless steel.

More specifically and as best shown in FIGURES 25 of the drawings, the fluid reservoir means of the apparatus comprises an open tank 34 carried by frame 10 between angle-shaped supports 36 secured to the inner faces of side members 12, 14 thereof. From an inclined pan 38 formed integral with and constituting the forward end thereof, tank 34 extends rearwardly for substantially the entire length of frame 10. Vertical partitions 40, 42, of decreasing height extend transversely of tank 34 and divide the same into three longitudinally-spaced compartments 44, 44 and 46. Treatment fluid received within pan 38 of tank 34, from the squeeze-delivery rolls 22, 24 which it underlies, flows into compartment 44. Compartments 44, 44 contain treatment fluid at all times during operation of the apparatus, and preferably are kept substantially full as shown to facilitate sequential transfer of the fluid toward the inlet end of the apparatus as it becomes increasingly dirty or otherwise unservicea'ble through use. Thus, when kept full, any excess of fluid in compartment 44' overflows into compartment 44, and the latter in turn overflows into compartment 46. Suitable drain piping such as that identified in FIGURES 2 and 5 by the numeral 48 conducts this most used and usually no longer serviceable fluid passing into compartment 46 from the apparatus. Formed integral with the bottom of compartment 44 of tank 34 is a depressed sump 50', into which extends, for the purpose of replenishing the fluid supply within tank 34, one end of a conduit 52 connected at its opposite end to a suitable source of treatment fluid (not shown). Also extending into sump 50' is a conduit 54 communicating with the intake port of a pump 56 carried by and extending through side member 12 of frame 10. In similar fashion, compartment 44 of tank 34 is provided with a sump 50 communicating through a conduit 54 (see FIGURE 4) with the intake port of a pump 56 also extending through and carried by side member 12 of frame 10.

Treatment fluid supplied from sump 50 to pump 56 is forced upwardly therefrom through a conduit 58 and into a header 60 mounted at an upward location upon the inner face of side member 12 of frame 10. Connected to and communicating with header 60 is one end of an elongate horizontally-extending fluid manifold 62, the closed opposite end of which is connected as by a bracket 63 to the inner face of side member 14 of frame 10. As best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, manifold 62 possesses in vertical transverse cross-section a generally Y-shaped configuration, having inclined upper sections 64, 66, into which treatment fluid from header 60 flows equally and under pressure, which converge downwardly toward each other and toward a vertical depending section 68 open at its lower end. The adjacent walls 70, 72 of inclined sections 64, 66, respectively, do not meet, but rather terminate in approximately the Vertical planes of the walls of section 68 extending respectively therebeneath. This defines, in conjunction with section 68, a central passageway 74 which extends vertically completely through manifold .62 and longitudinally along substantiallythe entire length thereof, andwhich communicates with sections 64, 66 through elongate openings 76, 78 at the respective lower end portions of the latter. T he walls of section 64 immediately adjacent opening 76 converge in nozzle-like fashion toward such opening and mount therebetween, preferably in equally spaced relationship along substantially the entire length of manifold 62, a plurality of vanes 80 (see FIGURE 4) between which fluid leaving section 64 of manifold 62 must pass. The vanes 80 intermediate the longitudinal center area of manifold 62 and one end thereof are so inclined as to direct this treatment fluid passing therebetween and from opening 76 angularly outwardly and toward such one end of the manifold, while the vanes 80 intermediate the center area of the manifold and the opposite end thereof are equally but oppositely inclined so as to direct fluid passing between them angularly outwardly toward such opposite end. Since section 66 of manifold 62 is in the same manner provided with inclined vanes 82 between the converging walls thereof adjacent its opening 7 8, a web of material extending vertically through passageway 74 of manifold 62 receives along its entire width and both faces the impact of moving sheets or streams of fluid which, at the line of impact, are not only converging sharply downwardly but in addition are directed outwardly from the longitudinal center and toward the side edges of the web.

Extending vertically downwardly beneath manifold 62 of the apparatus and a slight distance into compartment 1 44 of reservoir tank 34 is an upright, generally box-like treatment chamber 83 having spacedly-opposed interior major walls 84, 86, exterior major walls 88, 90, side walls, and open upper and lower ends respectively defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Depending section 68 of manifold 62 is received within the open upper end of chamber 83, and projects a suflicient distance downwardly therethrough to insure that during operation -"of the apparatus all of the rapidly-traveling fluid continuously emitted from. manifold 62 is received by the chamber. In order to impart a turbulent flow to the fluid so received and thereafter passing along and between closely-spaced interior walls 84, 86 of the chamber to the open lower end thereof, these walls are of a corrugated construction overall but their peripheral areas. Preferably, and as shown, the corrugations of both walls 84 and 86 extend horizontally and are of the same spacing and size for each wall. Heating or cooling of the treatment fluid, if desired during its passage through chamber 83, may be accomplished by circulation of a suitable medium between the exterior faces of walls 84, 86 and the exterior chamber walls 88, 90 respectively secured in sealed. relationship thereto. Thus, for example, steam conducted from a suitable source (not shown) to the apparatus by conduit 92 is passed through main and branch sections of conduit 94 into the space provided between walls 84, 88 by the medial corrugated construction of the former, and thereafter is returned via branch and main sections of conduit 98 to an exhaust conduit 96 leading from the apparatus. The space between walls 86, 90 is similarly connected to steam supply and exhaust conduits 92, 96,.

except that in such connection flexible metallic hose as identified in FIGURES 2 and 5 by the numeral 99 isemployed where necessary to afford freedom of movement of these wallsrelative to frame 10 of the apparatus.

The aforesaid capability for walls 86, '90 freedom of movement is also provided for in the construction and mounting of the side walls of chamber 83. As most clearly shown in FIGURES 840, that side wall of. chamber 83 disposed adjacent and parallel to side member 12 of frame 10 is comprised of separate flat panels 100, 102 extending in parallel, partially-overlapped and closely-spaced relationship to each other. Extending vertically between the overlapping surfaces of plates 100, 102 and along their entire heights is a comma-shaped seal 103 (see FIG- URE the enlarged base portion of which is mounted within a suitable groove provided in plate 100 and the free end portion of which resiliently bears against plate 102 while extending generally toward the interior of chamber 83. Panel 100 extends along and is connected as by welding to the contiguous side edges of walls 84, 88 of chamber 83, and is rigidly mounted at its opposite ends by brackets 104 so as to immovably secure walls 84, 88 in their illustrated position relative to frame 10. Panel 102 is similarly connected along its length to the side edges of walls 86, 90 of chamber 83. The connection between panel 102 and frame 10, however, is such as to permit adjustment of the position of the former and therefore of walls 86, 90, such connection including bolts 106, nuts 108 and tubular spacers 110. Bolts 106 project through and inwardly of side member 12 of frame 10, passing therefrom through their respective spacers 110 provided between the opposed faces of side member 12 and of panel 102, and thence through respective slots 112 extending through panel 102 and at an angle of approximately 30 to the vertical. The opposite side wall of chamber 83 adjacent side member 14 of frame 10 is constructed and mounted in precisely the same manner as that just described, including a fixed panel 114 (see FIG- URES 2 and 4) corresponding to panel 100, a movable panel 116 corresponding to panel 102, bolts 118 corresponding to bolts 106, spacers 120 corresponding to spacers 110, nuts 122 corresponding to nuts 108, slots 123 corresponding to slots 112, etc. Upon loosening of nuts 108, 122, therefore, the position of corrugated wall 86 of chamber 83 can be adjustably varied in both the horizontal and vertical directions relative to opposed corrugated wall 84 of the chamber. Within the limits of such adjustive movement as are imposed by abutment of bolts 106, 118 with the opposite ends of the respective inclined slots 112, 123, wall 86 may be positioned such that its corrugations extend either in spaced parallel relationship to those of wall 84, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, or in opposed and more closely spaced relationship to the corrugations of wall 84, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. In either of these relative positions of walls 84, 86, the corrugations thereof produce desired turbulent, non-linear flow of the treatment fluid passing downwardly through chamber 83 and about any web material extending therein. In the FIGURE 7 parallel position, however, the turbulent flow is of a zig-zag nature, while in the opposed-corrugation position the flow is of the venturi-type indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 6. Generally speaking, the former has been found preferable for treatment of the more porous and fragile web materials, while the latter is believed more satisfactory for denser materials, not only from the viewpoint of achieving good fluid penetration of the materials, but likely also from the subsequentlydiscussed viewpoint of the fluid-driving exerted thereon. Once moved to either of its aforesaid extreme positions, or to any desired intervening position which might be more satisfactory for the fluid and web characteristics of a particular operation, wall 86 of chamber 83 may of course be-there secured until such time as further adjustment might be desired simply by tightening of the nuts 108, 122 carried by bolts 106, 118, respectively.

Treatment fluid completing its downward travel through chamber 83 is returned through the open lower end of the chamber to the compartment 44 of reservoir tank 34 from whence it started. Unless among that excess overflowed into compartment 46, the fluid is then again recirculated by pump 56 to header 60 and manifold 62, from which it again descends downwardly through chamber 83. This circulation and recirculation of the treatment fluid continues at all times during operation of the apparatus.

Mounted above compartment 44' of reservoir tank 34 of the apparatus and receiving the treatment fluid supplied from its sump 50' to pump 56', are a header 60*, manifold 62', treatment chamber 83 and associated components identical in all respects to the corresponding previously-described components of the apparatus associated with compartment 44. Further description thereof is unnecessary in view of such identity of construction and the identification in the drawings of corresponding parts by the same reference numerals with the addition of a prime designation.

In addition to the driven rolls previously described, frame 10 of the apparatus also carries a plurality of axially-parallel idler rolls 124, 124', 126, 126 and 128. Rolls 124, 124 are mounted between side members 12, 14 of frame 10 at an elevation such that their upper surfaces lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as that of the nip of driven feed rolls 18, 20, and in longitudinal positions such that their forward surfaces are disposed above and in substantial vertical alinement with passageways 74, 74 of fluid manifolds 62, 62, respectively. Rolls 126, 126' extend in the same horizontal plane between opposed sides of compartments 44, 44', respectively, of reservoir tank 34 of the apparatus, at an elevation only slightly below the lower ends of the treatment chambers within such compartments. The rearward surface of roll 126 lies approximately in the same vertical plane as the forward surface of roll 124, and the same vertical relationship exists between rolls 126' and 124'. The remaining idler roll 128 extends between side members 12, 14 of frame 10 intermediate treatment chamber 83' and driven rolls 22, 24 of the apparatus, with its upper surface lying approximately in the horizontal plane of the nip of the latter.

The complete path of travel of web material about and through the various rolls and other components of the apparatus is shown in FIGURE 2, in which the material is identified by the numeral 130. As shown, the web material 130 introduced into the apparatus through the nip of driven rolls 18, 20 extends therefrom to and over roll 124, then vertically downwardly through the alined passageways of the manifold 62 and treatment chamber 83 directly therebeneath, then loosely under roll 126 and upwardly therefrom to and over roll 124, then vertically downwardly through the alined passageways of manifold 62 and treatment chamber 83, then loosely under roll 126 and upwardly therefrom to and over roll 128, and then to the nip of driven rolls 22, 24 and from the apparatus.

Web material 130 is conducted through the apparatus at relatively high speed, speeds of from approximately 75 to 500 feet per minute being readily achievable and even higher speeds being deemed possible. It is also conducted through the apparatus in a substantially relaxed condition. That is, rolls 18, 20 and 22, 24 exert only such tensioning forces on web material 130 as necessary to counteract the effect of gravity. Such gravity tension, which is necessarily present whenever web material is suspended or fed between laterally spaced points, is hereinafter ignored for purposes of simplification. The substantially relaxed condition of web material 130 greatly facilitates, for obvious reasons, its penetration by the treatment fluid during passage through treatment chambers 83, 83'.

The presently-realized combination of high web speed plus relaxed web condition is unusual if not unique in fluid-treating operations. 'Prior attempts in this regard, as by passing the web material loosely about suitable guide rolls immersed in a treatment-fluid bath, have resulted even at modest web speeds in the formation of severe wrinkles or folds in the material, particularly in the longitudinal web-direction, and at attempted higher speeds in such skewing and other misalignment of the web as to frequently cause its entanglement with roll bearings and the like. In view of these obviously undesirable results, it is now customary in the art to impose considerable longitudinal tension upon the web material passing through treatment fluid, as by the provision of a speed differential between the web feed and delivery rolls, despite the con- 7 sequential loss in efliciency due to poorer penetration of the taut material by the treatment fluid.

In the present invention, on the other hand, wrinkling and skewing of web material 130 are instead avoided by the flow of the treatment fluid within manifolds 62, 62' and treatment chambers 83, 83 of the apparatus. The direction and velocity of the flow are such as to not only avoid the fluid itself imparting wrinkling and skewing forces to web material 130, but also as to positively counteract any such forces otherwise imparted to the web. In this connection, the velocity of the treatment fluid passing continuously from manifolds 62, 62' and through chambers 83, 83 is maintained, primarily by suitable adjustment of the speed or throttled condition of pumps 56, 56, at all times greater than the speed of the web material 130 passing therethrough and preferably in no event less than approximately 900 feet per minute and from 1,500 and 1,800 feet per minute, respectively; the latter flow velocity being that required for the fluid emitted at manifolds 62, 62 in order to produce the former flow velocity within the greater-area chambers 83, 83'. The dual streams or sheets of fluid directed angularly at the aforesaid high velocities against the opposite faces of web material 130 within passageways 74,74 of manifolds 62,62, respectively, each exert appreciable forces on the web having first and second force-components directed equally outwardly from the webs center and toward both its edges, and a third force-component directed longitudinally of the web and in the downward direction of its travel. The former two force-components tend to maintain the web flat and unwrinkled in the widthwise direction, and also to prevent its skewing or laterally shifting from its prescribed path of travel. The third force-component tends to maintain the web flat and unwrinkled in the lengthwise direction of its path of travel, and also to itself feed the web downwardly along such path of travel. The flow of fluid through treatment chambers 83, 83, being in the same overall direction as and at a greater speed than that of the web material 130 passing therethrough, produces no undesirable wrinkling or skewing of the web material and itself tends to maintain the web substantially flat in the lengthwise direction and to feed the web downwardly. Notwithstanding its lesser flow-velocity, this web-feeding action of the chamber 83, 83 fluid is believed to be considerably greater than that of the manifold 62, 62' fluid due to the greater web area present within chambers 83, 83' at any given instant.

The aforesaid web-driving action of the treatment fluid offsets those drag forces exerted on web material 130, as by roller friction and otherwise, and therefore contributes significantly to the substantially relaxed condition of the web.

It will thus be seen that the present apparatus realizes and possesses the objects and advantages hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical benefits. The substantially relaxed condition of the web material and the internally-turbulent flow of the treatment fluid together in sure maximum penetration of the web by the fluid within the treatment zones defined by the interiors of chambers 83, 83'. High quality is in turn assured by this good penetration plus the absence of defects due to web wrinkling and the like. Such high quality is achieved at no loss or efliciency, the web material being conducted through the apparatus at high speed and without interruptions to correct skewing, and maximum use being made of the treatment fluid, both by the fluids rapid recirculation and by its sequential transfer through reservoir tank 34 prior to becoming completely unserviceable. Further, the foregoing benefits may be realized in conjunction with web materials and treatment fluids of widely varying characteristics, due to the facility with which the apparatus can be adjusted-as at chambers 83, 83 and pumps 56, 56to best accommodate the specific characteristics of the web and fluid employed in the particular washing, dyeing or other treating operation.

, material upwardly along 8 While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is understood that this was for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being in accordance,

with the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A method of continuously treating open-width web material with fluid at high speeds and without distortion and wrinkling, comprising: introducing the Web material into an elongate upright treatment chamber having open upper and lower ends in substantial vertical alignment, the web material being introduced into the upper end of the treatment chamber in a substantially relaxed, openwidth and tensionless condition; circulating treatment fluid downwardly through the treatment chamber and from the lower end thereof at a high velocity and in engagement with the full width of the opposite sides of the web material to feed the web material rapidly downwardly through the treatment chamber, while simultaneously directing components of the downwardly-circulating treatment fluid transversely toward and away from opposite sides of the web material to produce turbulence in the fluid and facilitate its penetration and treatment of the web material; the web material being fed through the treatment chamber and from the lower end thereof solely by the downwardlycirculating treatment fluid and the velocity of the downwardly-circulating treatment fluid from the time of its initial engagement with the web material until the withdrawal of the web material therefrom being at all times greater in the direction of movement of the web material than the rate of travel of the web material engaged therey; wardly-circulating treatment fluid directly after passage thereof from the lower end of the treatment chamber by conveying the same upwardly along a path of travel and at a speed causing the web material to form a slack, generally catenary loop extending from and disposed closely adjacent the lower end of thetreatment chamber.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the treatment fluid is introduced into the treatment chamber and into its initial engagement with the web material by impinging opposed high-velocity streams thereof against the entire width of opposite sides of the web material adjacent the upper end of the treatment chamber, the opposed fluid streams converging downwardly at equal angles toward opposite sides of the web material, and each of the streams also being directed outwardly from the center and toward the edges of the web material to spread the same laterally, and the velocity of the treatment fluid within the impinging streams being greater than the velocity thereof during its subsequent downward passage through the treatment chamber.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the area of the treatment-chamber in horizontal cross-section is relatively small and is substantially the same at the upper and lower ends of the chamber and at all elevations therebetween, and wherein the velocity of the downwardly-circulating treatment fluid is accelerated by gravity during passage through the treatment chamber.

4. A method as in claim 1, including conveying the web the path of travel thereof to and into the upper end of a second treatment chamber similar to the first-mentioned chamber and extending in horizontally spaced and generally parallel relationship thereto; feeding the web material downwardly through the second treatment chamber while simultaneously treating the same by circulating a high velocity turbulent flow of treatment fluid downwardly through the second treatment chamber in engagement with opposite side of the web material therein; the web materialbeing conveyed upwardly along the path of travel thereof to the second treatment chamber, and being fed through and from the lower end of the second treatment chamber, solely by the treatment fluid circulated downwardly through the second treatment chamber.

and withdrawing the web material from the down- 9 5. A method as in claim 1, wherein a portion of the treatment fluid passing from the lower end of the treatment chamber is received within the slack loop of web material and directed thereby outwardly from the center and toward the edges thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,533,248 12/1950 Helmus 8151 2,591,815 4/1952 Hilliard 68184 10 2,613,522 10/1952 Heflelfinger 68-184 Walmsley 68-62 Fornelli 68--181 X Mann et a1. 68-177 Faraguna 68184 Yazawa 68-181 X Valls 68--181 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF CONTINUOUSLY TREATING OPEN-WIDTH WEB MATERIAL WITH FLUID OF A HIGH SPEEDS AND WITHOUT DISTORTION AND WRINKLING, COMPRISING: INTRODUCING THE WEB MATERIAL INTO AN ELONGATE UPRIGHT TREATMENT CHAMBER HAVING OPEN UPPER AND LOWER ENDS IN SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, THE WEB MATERIAL BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE UPPER END OF THE TREATMENT CHAMBER IN A SUBSTANTIALLY RELAXED, OPENWIDTH AND TENSIONSLESS CONDITION; CIRCULATING TREATMENT FLUID DOWNWARDLY THROUGHT THE TREATMENT CHABMER AND FROM THE LOWER END THEREOF AT A HIGH VELOCITY AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FULL WIDTH OF THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB MATERIAL TO FEED THE WEB MATERIAL RAPIDLY DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE TREATMENT CHAMBER, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DIRECTING COMPONENTS OF THE DOWNWARDLY-CIRCULATING TREATMENT FLUID TRANSVERSELY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB MATERIAL TO PRODUCE TURBULENCE IN THE FLUID AND FACILITATE ITS PENETRATION AND TREATMENT OF THE WEB MATERIAL; THE WEB MATERIAL BEING FED THROUGH THE TREATMENT CHAMBER AND FROM THE LOWER END THEREOF SOLELY BY THE DOWNWARDLYCIRCULATING TREATMENT FLUID AND THE VELOCITY OF THE DOWNWARDLY-CIRCULATING TREATMENT FLUID FROM THE TIME OF ITS INITIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WEB MATERIAL UNTIL THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE WEB MATERIAL THEREFROM BEING AT ALL TIMES GREATER IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE WEB MATERIAL THAN THE RATE OF TRAVEL OF THE WEB MATERIAL ENGAGED THEREBY; AND WITHDRAWING THE WEB MATERIAL FROM THE DOWNWARDLY-CIRCULATING TREATMENT FLUID DIRECTLY AFTER PASSAGE THEREOF FROM THE LOWER END OF THE TREATMENT CHAMBER BY CONVEYING THE SAME UPWARDLY ALONG A PATH OF TRAVEL AND AT A SPEED CAUSING THE WEB MATERIAL TO FORM A SLACK, GENERALLY CATENARY LOOP EXTENDING FROM AND DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE TREATMENT CHAMBER. 